I Love you Canada!

[noel711]

Last edited Tue Aug 6, 2013, 03:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Spent the last 12 days going from Calgary, to Yellowknife, to Ulukhaktok,
a mission trip (ministry of accompaniment, not to make them like us,
but to learn from the people.. and listen)... and was humbled by the grace,
the kindness, the gentle humor of all we met.

What a spectacular country! The Arctic was especially incredible!
The Inuit people up there are a miracle...they welcomed us into their tiny village,
the children were sweet, busy and talkative: they wanted to know all about Americans.
We were privileged to be invited to the weekly Drum Dance practice.
I, again, have been floored, and inspired, by the culture of the people..

Please note: we did not just show up.. and impose ourselves on the village.
WE were invited about a year ago, and went thru proper protocols for
our time there; the local elders requested us, housed us, and advised us.
And the elders were outstanding...life changing.

We will be back for many reasons.

[shenmue]

1. I've been to Montreal

It was beautiful. One of my favorite cities.

[Locut0s]

2. You gotta visit Vancouver and BC if you didn't! :D

Glad you enjoyed it here!

[Nay]

3. Go to Vancouver, then hop a ferry and pop over to Victoria on Vancouver Island, my

favorite place in the whole world. Gorgeous scenery up and down the island, Victoria's wonderful Inner Harbor, north island wildernesses, whale watching, bear watching. I can hardly wait to go back.

[JBoy]

4. You must have seen a lot of daylight!

Not surprised the children are "busy". I've heard that in summer Inuit kids have to be forced to go to sleep, otherwise they'll keep on playing outside all night long.

Sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime trip!

[noel711]

5. Daylight?

Constantly. Sometimes it seemed brighter at 11 pm than in the morning.
If I was making a middle of night run to toilet, I'd look out window:
often there were kids playing basketball at school, or some kid bike riding down
the main road...
no one gets up in the morning except those crazy white women...
sleeping was strange, and I'm glad to be in the lower continent so we get dark at night.
But it was amazing... You are gob smacked by the notion that this is indeed a
very different culture. Not like going to Europe where everyone is kinda like us.

But I failed a test: I was visiting one of the elders one evening (incredible stories and insight)
and the women of the family were gathered around the kitchen table..
eating something. They invited me to eat some 'muk-tuk'= beluga whale skin,
a treasured delicacy.. I turned them down politely, I'd just eaten a huge serving of
arctic char.
A few days later I read that the Inuit have a test: REAL people eat whale blubber;
those who won't, aren't real but pure spirit and should be avoided.
So... in their eyes, I am not a real person.
Live and learn.

[JBoy]

6. I wouldn't put too much stock in the "real people" test.

In Newfoundland, they have a tradition called "screeching in". That's where visitors to Newfoundland have to drink a shot of screech (Newfoundland rum), and then kiss a cod. I think it was made up by Newfoundlanders who just wanted to make visitors kiss a fish.

[grasswire]

7. I think I like those Newfies.

Sounds hilarious!